Alvaro Picardo is a modern day Geppetto, bringing inanimate objects to life with a little paint and a lot of creativity. Taking inspiration from a variety of sources, including historical artistic movements, the natural world and architectural forms, Picardo distills his points of reference into an interplay of material, form and color. Imbuing each of his surfaces with new life, he transforms lampshades into functional artwork with sculptural proportions, creating objects that dance with elegant vibrancy.

Working between London and Empordà, in Catalunya, Alvaro's lampshades hold the memory of their place of production, the makers' focus, and bears the considered handmade marks that make each a unique creation of time and place.

Our largest lampshade Untitled 1 (below) took the work of Cuban-born American abstract, minimalist visual artist and painter Carmen Herrera as the inspirational point of departure. Channeling the sculptural quality of her hard-edge works, Alvaro adds a softness through the underlying form of the lampshade, creating an object that is bold yet domestic.